I have been hearing a lot about ‘bone broth’ lately and it’s amazing benefits. I roasted a chicken the other night and gave it a try. After the meat had been pulled off, I placed the carcass in a pot with water, apple cider vinegar (to help release the nutrients and minerals), onions, garlic, celery, carrots and some parsley. You could really add anything to flavor it how you like, some spice may be nice to trigger the release of more fluid in your body, which is always great for detox. I then simmered my covered pot for 24 hours. Using cheese cloth, I strained the broth and kept the rest aside in a bowl to grind in the blender for Mookie as it makes a wonderfully nutritious homemade dog food. I added some seasalt to taste and started sipping. My daughter and I shared a big steamy bowl and I stored the rest in the refrigerator. It was a little greasy and I did not feel any immediate effects but I knew in my bones that I was doing something good for my body.

Chicken soup is always said to heal a cold and there is scientific truth to this statement. Chicken contains the amino acid, cysteine, which thins mucus in the lungs. It has actual effect when dealing with congestion plus there’s nothing like the comfort of its delicious aroma. My parents lived in Hong Kong for a few years, where I was ‘made’ and born. The Chinese have an incredible knowledge of natural healing . One remedy my parents used was Essence of Chicken which is sort-of a condensed chicken soup containing all of the healing properties. It can actually be purchased Amazon.

So, back to the bone broth. It’s entirely wholesome and is said to speed recuperation time from illness and promote healing. The minerals and broken down nutrients from the cartilage and tendons in a chicken carcass, for example, contain glucosamine and chondroitin suplphate that have been proven to reduce joint inflammation and pain. The cooking process releases calcium and magnesium from the chicken bones which are essential for our healthy bones . You will notice, as you make your broth, that it has a gelatinous property. This gelatin is produced from the collagen in the chicken which is what promotes a healthy gut by supporting proper digestion and sealing digestive enzymes within the gut. I’m sure you’ve heard gelatin is wonderful for healthy hair, skin and nails, too. Any bones will do, you can use poultry or meat. Bone broth can be purchased as well. The farm where I buy a lot of dairy sells it along with plenty of other nutritious food. www.millersorganicfarm.com.

I suggest you give it a try yourself one day. I roast a chicken almost once a week for my children and I am going to made a huge effort to continue with the bone broth. It definitely cannot hurt. The broth can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days and also frozen. Placed in ice cube trays the bone broth can be incorporated into sauces, soups, rices, etc. And don’t forget to grind up those softened bones (and your flavorings, makes it much easier) for the dog or cat. Just add some water or broth to blend and if it’s too thin, mix in some rice. Bone broth is relatively easy to make, it just takes time to simmer so all of those important nutrients can leach out. You will feel totally healthy and accomplished, I promise!

Recipe for Chicken Bone Broth, remember this is a base, feel free to play with it by adding or subtracting.

1 chicken carcass

2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Onion

2 Carrots

3 Celery stems with leaves

1 handful Parsley

3 Garlic Cloves

Add seasalt at the end. Sometimes salt can become lost in a dish if added too soon, leading you to salt again. The result is felt after consumption with that funny feeling in your mouth.

Add water to cover, bring to a boil and simmer for 24 hours on your stovetop. I can imagine a crockpot would do the trick too.